CHANGES OF SERUM UREA VALUES IN RATS WITH A PORTACAVAL-SHUNT

The study was aimed at an investigation of the role of insulin and glu cagon on serum urea concentrations in rats with chronic hyperammoniemi a (porto-caval shut) in the period of 14 weeks after surgery. Serum ur ea levels of these animals were not significantly changed (p>0.05), al though the progressive elevation of ammonia levels was highly signific ant (p<0.01). Elevation of basal insulin concetrations was also highly significant (p<0.01), but the ratio between urea and insulin concentr ations was not statisticaly significant (p>0.05). Alterations of basal glucagon levels were highly significant (p<0.01) and there was a clos e positive correlation between urea levels and glucagonemia (p<0.01).